AIMA is thrilled to announce that TVNZ has taken out premier sponsorship of keynote speaker Dr Mahsa McCauley at AIMA Converge 2026, the sector's biggest gathering yet of New Zealand's independent media agency community, being held on Thursday 6 August.
This year's theme, 'Indie Edge. Human Advantage', speaks to what sets the indie sector apart, and why that distinction matters more than ever as AI reshapes the industry and clients demand sharper strategic thinking.
The afternoon opens with Dr McCauley, Chair of the AI Forum NZ, drawing on her work in AI policy, machine learning and organisational strategy to help indie agency owners identify where human judgement remains irreplaceable, and how to lead their teams with clarity and confidence through rapid technological change.
She'll be followed by a Futures Panel led by Jake Calder, before Decoding Indies gives partners dedicated, structured table time with agency owners and founders to hear firsthand about their business priorities, client portfolios and how they prefer to work with vendors. The day closes with AIMA's Trade Show, bringing the industry together over drinks, canapés and a DJ.
Simon Teagle, CEO of AIMA, says TVNZ's backing of the keynote reflects the strength of the relationship between the broadcaster and the independent agency community.
"We're delighted to have TVNZ on board as premier sponsor of our keynote speaker," says Teagle. "Dr McCauley's work on AI and human judgement gets right to the heart of this year's theme and having a partner of TVNZ's calibre backing that conversation shows just how seriously they take their relationship with the indie sector. Converge is our biggest event yet, and this sponsorship helps us bring our members a calibre of thinking that will genuinely shape how they lead their businesses."
TVNZ will also bring its 'Making it Easy to Back Kiwi' activation to life through a dedicated solus area at the event, demonstrating how the broadcaster helps independent agencies connect local businesses with the scale, trust and innovation of New Zealand's leading local media platform, through ease of trade, display, innovation and local growth.
James Butcher, GM Sales at TVNZ, says the sponsorship is a natural extension of the broadcaster's ongoing partnership with AIMA.
"Converge is exactly the kind of event we want to be part of," says Butcher. "It brings together the people making the decisions for independent agencies right across the country and gives us a genuine opportunity to demonstrate how we make it easy to back Kiwi. Backing a keynote speaker of Dr McCauley's calibre, on a topic as important as AI and human advantage, is a great fit for where we see this industry heading."
Converge is built to create more meaningful conversations, stronger commercial outcomes, and genuine relationship-building between agencies and the partners who back them.